Talia hadn’t been clean in years. She couldn’t tell the truth and keep her word if she wanted to. But damn… it was her sister and she wanted her back in her life. So, she tried calling again, but still nothing. Her chest tightened.
“I just hope you’re safe sista,” she murmured.
For a moment, she was foolish enough to believe that things were surely about to be different. People did what they wanted to do. She wished she had the balls to do the same.
She called Jio next.
It rang until she got his voicemail.
Nina swallowed down the frustration building in her chest.
The hope she felt earlier had been tossed out the window. Nina wrapped the food up and went to bed. Jio and Talia could kiss her mother fuckin’ ass.
THREE
“YOU GOT ME ALL GONE. DON’T LET ME GO.” BEYONCE
PRESENT DAY
Nina had a burn on her wrist but one had to be in close proximity to notice it, especially since she kept it covered with the stack of jewelry that she wore on her right hand. Two Van Cleef bracelets mixed in with David Yurman cable links, aMarcellebangle, and a thin tennis bracelet that Javon bought her for Mother’s Day many years ago. But when her anxiety got the best of her, she moved all those bracelets to the side and dug into the burn. She scratched at a scab that didn’t exist because it was soothing in a way. Nina turned around to confirm that she’d heard her assistant correctly.
“Jio’s girlfriend?” she whispered.
Of course, her assistant knew who Jio was. She signed a non-disclosure agreement so tight that she had to turn her location off when she came to her house to handle any personal errands. Her boss was THEE Nina Marcelle.
Nina was Miranda fromThe Devil Wears Pradain the flesh. Fashion. Real Estate. Philanthropy. Arts and Culture Affairs. Nina represented women from all walks of life. She wore many different hats. It wasn’t anything that she hadn’t done or couldn’t do. She was far from a regular chick. She was a big deal and baby she knew it.
“That’s what she said. I can have security vet her. I did take a peek at the address on her driver’s license. The zip code is reputable.”
Nina’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“She looks… rich… like you.” Daiya didn’t mean to rub it in, but she wanted to prepare Nina, although it wasn’t necessary because unfortunately, she knew exactly who the bitch was.
“She probably is, he had great taste.”
Nina didn’t look like what she’d been through and she never would. If there was a face attached to the saying, “We Wear The Mask….”Her profile would be greatly plastered next to the poster. She applied a fresh coat of Marcelle lipstick. The plum cherry color was her favorite to wear around the office.
“She’s in the conference room?”
“No, in the waiting area still.”
“You can take her to the conference room. I’m coming in two seconds.”
Nina turned around and went to the break room to get a glass of water. She wanted a drink and probably really needed one but today was supposed to be a fresh start. She refused to allow grief to be an excuse to backslide into bad habits. She’d done enough drinking over the past few weeks and it was time to dial it back.
She thought about calling Javon to see if maybe he would reconsider his lie that he’d told on the day of his father’s funeral.
Jio and Javon were close and not just your typical father and son close, but they were truly best buds. Jio didn’t trust many, and the older he got and more successful he grew, the tighter his circle became and the more he reclused.
Kadeer and Darrow probably knew who the chick was too, but Javon would know more about her than anyone.
She was a big girl and could handle this.
It’d been many years since a woman had the balls to come to her about HER man. But hey, it wouldn’t be the first time andshe prayed that it was the last. Jio was gone and may the good Lord rest his sweet soul.
“If I could kick your ass I would,” she said, looking to the ceiling. Nina knew he was up there shitting bricks.
Jio was good at keeping his ‘extracurricular activities’ far away from her and that’s how she preferred it.
